99% OFF
Best Seller
Featured
New
Limited seats
India

Alleppey & Kumarakom Houseboat · Slow Days on the Backwaters

Lakeside resort in Kumarakom and a private houseboat night on the Alleppey backwaters

4.8711 reviews
3 Nights / 4 Days(3N/4D)
India, Kerala
easy pace
Great for couples, family, senior

Destinations: Kochi → Kumarakom → Alleppey

1 / 10

Overview

About this Alleppey & Kumarakom Houseboat trip

A short, unhurried escape built around water. You start with two nights at a lakeside resort in Kumarakom on the shore of Vembanad Lake, Kerala's largest — mornings at the bird sanctuary, afternoons in a country canoe through narrow village canals, evenings watching the sun drop behind the coconut palms. Then you board a private kettuvallam houseboat in Alleppey for a full day and night afloat, with Kerala meals cooked on board, before a final half-day among the Chinese fishing nets and spice warehouses of Fort Kochi.

Two slow nights by Vembanad Lake, a bird-sanctuary dawn, village canoe rides and a private overnight houseboat.

Duration: 3 Nights / 4 Days
Stay: 4-star lakeside resort & private deluxe houseboat
Transport: Private AC sedan or Innova with driver
Best time: September to March; August for the Nehru Trophy snake-boat race
Departures: 8 upcoming dates

Why Choose Alleppey & Kumarakom?

Private, overnight AC houseboat — not a shared day cruise
Two nights at a lake-facing resort in Kumarakom
Country-boat ride through canals too narrow for houseboats
Early-morning walk at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Fresh Kerala meals cooked by the houseboat crew
Short transfers — barely 2 hours of driving on any day

Trip highlights

Vembanad Lake
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Private houseboat
Village canoe ride
Alleppey canals
Fort Kochi

Itinerary

Day-by-day plan for Alleppey & Kumarakom Houseboat

4 days, planned end to end

D1
- Pickup at Cochin airport or Ernakulam station
- Drive to Kumarakom (approx. 2–2.5 hours)
- Check in at a lakeside resort on Vembanad Lake
- Sunset over the lake; evening at leisure
D2
- Dawn walk at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (best Nov–Feb for migratory birds)
- Country-canoe ride through village canals and paddy fields
- Optional Ayurvedic massage at the resort spa
- Toddy-shop style Kerala lunch (optional, at your cost)
D3
- Drive to Alleppey (approx. 1 hour) and board your private houseboat around noon
- Cruise Vembanad Lake and the palm-lined Punnamada and Kainakary stretches
- Kerala lunch, evening tea with snacks and dinner cooked on board
- Houseboat anchors for the night by early evening as per local rules
D4
- Sunrise and breakfast on deck; disembark by 9 am
- Drive to Fort Kochi — Chinese fishing nets and St. Francis Church
- Mattancherry Palace and Jew Town spice lanes (palace closed Fridays)
- Drop at Cochin airport or Ernakulam station

What's covered

Inclusions & exclusions

Read this before you book — no surprise add-ons later.

Included

2 nights in a 4-star lake-facing resort in Kumarakom with breakfast
1 night on a private 1- or 2-bedroom deluxe AC houseboat (lunch, tea, dinner and breakfast)
Country-canoe village ride in Kumarakom
Private AC car with driver for all transfers and Fort Kochi sightseeing
Airport/railway pickup and drop at Kochi
Fuel, tolls, parking and driver allowance

Not included

Flights or trains to Kochi
Bird sanctuary and monument entry fees
Ayurvedic treatments and spa charges
Lunches and dinners at Kumarakom
Beverages on the houseboat
Tips for houseboat crew and driver

Stay & travel

Hotels & transport

Hotel category

4-star lakeside resort & private deluxe houseboat

Twin-sharing rooms with daily breakfast unless stated otherwise. Single rooms and upgrades on request.

Transport

Private AC sedan or Innova with driver

Airport and station pick-ups, sightseeing and inter-city transfers are arranged by our ground team.

Overnight stops: Kochi to Kumarakom · Kumarakom · Alleppey Houseboat · Fort Kochi & Departure

Route

Route map

4 stops from start to finish

KochiStart
2KumarakomStop 2
3AlleppeyStop 3
Fort KochiFinish

Plan ahead

Best time & what to pack

Best time to visit

September to March; August for the Nehru Trophy snake-boat race

Things to carry

Light cotton clothing and a hat
Insect repellent — essential on the backwaters at dusk
Sunscreen and sunglasses
Slip-on sandals for boarding boats
Swimwear for the resort pool
Binoculars for the bird sanctuary

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is the houseboat AC all night?

Most Alleppey houseboats run AC from about 9 pm to 6 am when anchored; during the day the deck is open and breezy. Fully air-conditioned premium boats are available at a supplement.

Does the houseboat cruise at night?

No. Local rules require houseboats to stop cruising and anchor by early evening so fishermen can work. Check-in is around 12 noon and check-out around 9 am.

Is the food vegetarian-friendly?

Yes. Tell us in advance and the cook will prepare veg, Jain or non-spicy meals. Karimeen (pearl spot fish) fry is the house speciality for non-vegetarians.

Can we upgrade to a premium or glass-roof houseboat?

Yes. Premium and luxury houseboats with fully enclosed AC lounges and upper decks are available; we will quote the difference for your dates.

When is the best time to see birds at Kumarakom?

November to February, when migratory birds arrive. Go at opening time — by mid-morning most birds have moved deeper into the mangroves.

Reviews

What travellers say

Write a review

4.8

711 traveller ratings

Verified FONIX WORLD reviews · 0

No verified reviews for this trip yet

Travelled on this trip with FONIX WORLD? Share your experience from My Reviews once your trip is complete — it helps the next traveller decide.

Policy

Cancellation & refunds

Refund by days before departure
When you cancel	Refund
30+ days before departure	90% refund
15–29 days before	75% refund
7–14 days before	50% refund
Less than 7 days	No refund

Cancel 30+ days before departure: 90% refund · 15–29 days: 75% · 7–14 days: 50% · under 7 days: no refund. Refunds go back to the original payment method within 7–10 working days. Cancel any time from My Trips — the refund is calculated instantly.

Share this trip and decide together.